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Review: ‘Witch Doctor: Mal Practice’ #6

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11 years ago

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In its thrilling conclusion, Witch Doctor: Mal Practice #6 delivers an action-packed finale that must be read. This is an all-out confrontation between monsters, femme fatales, and a sarcastic witch doctor. The “Witch Doctor” series closes its second chapter with a satisfying ending filled with hilarious one-liners and nonstop action.

WRITTEN BY: Brandon Seifert
ART BY: Lukas Ketner
PUBLISHER: Image Comics
PRICE: $2.99
RELEASE: April 24th, 2013

Dr. Vincent Morrow has made a lot of enemies over the years, but these opponents have crossed the line and have taken something that he wants back. Dr. Morrow’s assistant, Penny, is being held hostage by his rivals. Inside The Medicine Show’s “Spell Lab,” Penny is tied in chains and cannot break free. Eric Gast is ready to crash through the door and start shooting. Even though he doesn’t understand what she is, Dr. Morrow will not stop fighting until he knows for sure that Penny is safe and sound.

Brandon Seifert gives each and every one of his characters something important to do. Nobody is wasted. First, Seifert throws Dr. Morrow into a car chase as the leader of the Medicine Show escapes. Next, Eric is bleeding from the neck and can barely keep his mind focused. He has to deal with a knife-wielding maniac, who has the upper-hand. Finally, Penny is foolishly let loose from her chains. Even if Morrow and Gast are able to stop the rest of the Medicine Show, they will have to find a way to control their unstoppable killing machine.

I love how Seifert ends the “Mal Practice” miniseries with an outrageously over-the-top moment. I didn’t think Seifert was going to top the twisted baby-shaking scene in “Volume 1: Under The Knife,” but he really comes close. With the final few pages, I was asking myself, “Should I be laughing at this?”

Artist Lukas Ketner is game for anything and goes all-out with his illustrations. Ketner captures the eeriness of a floating octopus with a woman’s head on it. Making great use of panel layouts, Ketner illustrates a bloody brawl between Dr. Morrow and the leader of the Medicine Show. Dr. Morrow looks like an action hero as he runs across and swings his glowing red sword at his enemy.

Ketner really knows how to emphasize the grossness when the scene calls for it. To show how tough she is, Penny rips out her own arm in front of her kidnapper. Without saying so, Penny is proving that she needs only one arm to deal with her captor. This is one of those key “Ewww!” moments that I hope we see more of with “Wich Doctor”.

“Witch Doctor: Mal Practice” #6 ties up loose threads, while leaving things open-ended for the next story arc. The “Witch Doctor” series remains an entertaining read, which is why I look forward to what Seifert and Ketner will come up with for the next story arc.

4/5 Skulls

Reviewed by – Jorge Solis

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Comics

‘Witchblade’ is Getting Resurrected This Summer in New Comic Series from Top Cow and Image Comics

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1 day ago

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April 18, 2024

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Witchblade cover

Witchblade, the popular comic series that initially ran from 1995 to 2015 and launched a TV series, is getting resurrected in a new comic series from Top Cow and Image Comics. It’s set to unleash heavy metal, black magic and blood this summer.

Look for the new Witchblade series to launch on July 17, 2024.

In Witchblade #1, “New York City Police Detective Sara Pezzini’s life was forever fractured by her father’s murder. Cold, cunning, and hellbent on revenge, Sara now stalks a vicious criminal cabal beneath the city, where an ancient power collides and transforms her into something wild, magnificent, and beyond her darkest imaginings. How will Sara use this ancient power, or will she be consumed by it?”

The series is penned by NYT Best-Selling writer Marguerite Bennett (Animosity, Batwoman, DC Bombshells) and visualized by artist Giuseppe Cafaro (Suicide Squad, Power Rangers, Red Sonja). The creative duo is working with original co-creator Marc Silvestri, who is the CEO of Top Cow Productions Inc. and one of the founders of Image Comics. They are set to reintroduce the series to Witchblade’s enduring fans with “a reimagined origin with contemporary takes on familiar characters and new story arcs that will hook new readers and rekindle the energy and excitement that fueled the 90’s Image Revolution that shaped generations of top creators.”

Bennett said in a statement, “The ability to tell a ferocious story full of monsters, sexuality, vision, and history was irresistible.” She adds, “Our saga is sleek, vicious, ferocious, and has a lot to say about power in the 21st century and will be the first time that we are stopping the roller coaster to let more people on. I’ve loved Witchblade since I was a child, and there is truly no other heroine like Sara with such an iconic legacy and such a rich, brutal relationship to her own body.”

“The Witchblade universe is being modernized to reflect how Marguerite beautifully explores the extreme sides of Sara through memories, her personal thoughts, like desire and hunger, in her solitude and when she is possessed by the Witchblade. So, I had to visually intersect a noir True Detective-like world with a supernatural, horror world that is a fantastic mix between Berserk and Zodiac,” Cafaro stated.

Marc Silvestri notes, “This is brand new mythology around Sara, and I can’t wait for you to fall in love with her and all the twists and turns. Discover Witchblade reimagined this summer, and join us as we bring all the fun of the 90s to the modern age and see how exciting comics can be. I can’t wait for you to read this new series.”

Witchblade#1 will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, July 17th, for $4.99 for 48 pages. And it’ll come with multiple cover variants.

  • Cover A: Marc Silvestri and Arif Prianto (Full Color)

  • Cover B: Giuseppe Cafaro and Arif Prianto (Full Color)

  • Cover C: Blank Sketch Cover

  • Cover D (1/10): Dani and Brad Simpson (Full Color)

  • Cover E (1/25): Marc Silvestri and Arif Prianto, Virgin Cover (Full Color)

  • Cover F (1/50): J.Scott Campbell (Full Color)

  • Cover G (1/100): Bill Sienkiewicz. (Full Color)

  • Cover H (1/250): Line art by Marc. Virgin Cover, Inks (B/W)

Witchblade #1 will also be available across many digital platforms, including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play.

Witchblade comic panel Witchblade #1 cover image

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